Grammatical Analysis
Visuddhajanavilāsinī: [f.] The Charmer of Purified People; The Illuminator for Pure Beings. Formed by visuddhajana (purified people, i.e., Arahats) + vilāsinī (charming, illuminating).
Orthodox Definition
The Visuddhajanavilāsinī is the commentary on the Apadāna, the collection of past-life stories of the great Arahat monks and nuns. Its authorship is historically uncertain, though it is firmly rooted in the Mahāvihāra tradition.
The canonical Apadāna poetry is exceptionally brief, often casually mentioning previous Buddhas (like Padumuttara or Vipassī) whose existence was millions of aeons ago. This commentary is vital for establishing the immense, cosmological timeframe of Theravāda history. It provides the necessary prose background, identifying exactly which previous Buddha the disciple served, the exact nature of their meritorious deed (such as offering a flower or a meal), and mapping their celestial rebirths leading up to their final liberation under Gotama Buddha.
Textual References
- Subject Matter: Commentary on the Apadāna.